Thank you all for your advice so far its been very helpful. I try to use my hands more when I spar, its hard to get out of a kicking habit though. Plus, my instructor gets made when I do alot of punches, he thinks I should stick with the "traditional" Tkd way and do mostly kicks. When I'm sparring someone more on my level, I do alot more dodging. I was a little more on the aggressive side with my brother to show technique on the video. Normally I like to stay on the defensive, evading my opponent as much as possible. What I have been trying to do, as some people have said I should, is learn more to deflect my opponents attack, rather then block it straight on. About blocking with my leg, its weird, but I always had it stuck in my head that that was dangerous, but now I really have no idea why, since I've seen it done in Muay Thai matches many times. I don't know, just weird, I never put two and two together lol. I would really like to film some things in class tomorrow, hopefully it will be allowed. I'll be sure to work on everything everyone said, thank you again.

_________________________
To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."
~ Sun Tzu ~

"Plus, my instructor gets made when I do alot of punches, he thinks I should stick with the "traditional" Tkd way and do mostly kicks"

Wow, I can't believe your TKD instructor gets mad at you, that sure sucks. But remember were always talking about how its the MA'st not the MA'rt. Your the MA'st so when your in studio boundaries, do it the way your instructor tells you. Then, on your own or with your brother train the way you feel is right and as said previously, get outside ideas on methods of training. You'll never get enough because there is so much to learn.

Well, I would like to see how things work with less kickiing, and more dodging and deflecting. It is very unfortunate that he gets mad if someone doesnt kick enough, he even gets made if you dodge too much and dont block or attack. However, tomorrow, I'm going to try what feels right to me. Some of the stuff that people have suggested here to me, and some of the stuff that I've wanted to try. He may yell, but I think its worth it to find out what works for me against someone of a higher rank. Like I said before, my school isnt close to the best, but its the best within my driving range. They teach some good stuff, as you saw in the self defense videos, even though I need to add in my own stuff to make it realistic, but some of the stuff I don't like at all. For instance, I was sparring a higher rank the other night, and I grabbed his wrist, and punched him a few times in the ribs with my other hand. He didn't do anything, and I looked up, at this "higher rank" who is a 30 something year old, 6'4 giant, and he was just looking down at me, not doing anything as I held and punched him, he then shouted "He's holding me thats against the rules!" And my instructor yelled at me and made me do push ups. I just need to work hard on my own, alot of weight lifting, cardio, bag work, etc, and just keep the one wonderful thought in my head.....9 months till Florida.

_________________________
To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."
~ Sun Tzu ~

Good thinking, above all don't get discouraged. And try not to go in the path that most of us have gone through -- the style is more effective vs. the other style krap. Your TKD has great usefullness, and you've learned a great deal not worth giving up.

When you were told not to grab, well these are "house" rules that you are playing in and will force you into the stylistic interpretations of how you normally spar and practice.

TKD is primarily kicking and, I think, most schools teach it this way. This means a more focused atmosphere for kicking and an environment disallowing those techniques that take away from this focus.

Sport is sport, but you have to wrap your head around what you are being taught and why. You chose this school and thus you have to understand the ramifications of this teaching. Other schools will teach in a different manner where grabbing, punching, and take downs occur. This then requires a different set of skills.

In any case, don't get down on yourself. It was nice of you to share your videos...and this means that you have to be willing to take these criticisms and hopefully learn from them.

I posted the videos on martial arts planet and someone said that I look like i bought some equipment off ebay, watcheds some kung fu movies and then tried to copy it, he said he's seen people at his dojang with 2 months of training who are much better.

_________________________
To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."
~ Sun Tzu ~

I wouldn't worry too much about jerks like that. Overall I've been training longer than you, but you are MUCH better than I ever was. Speaking of, I met some TKD and WC guys last night at what was SUPPOSED to be breakdancing practice, but we ended up just sparring the whole time .

Now I haven't trained in anything in well over a year, but I sparred anyway just to see how much I remembered....and I got SERVED!

Everybody learns at a different rate, and everybody learns something differently. Some like audio, some prefer visuals, some prefer writing to learn (insert desired knowlegde). Besides, that guy's a jacka$$.